Major city · Madagascar
Ambositra
Stop for 2–4 hours on the RN7 drive between Antsirabe and Fianarantsoa: browse the wood-carving workshops and buy souvenirs. Not a destination on its own.
Ambositra is the wood-carving capital of Madagascar, home to the Zafimaniry tribe. The town itself is a single street of workshops and shops selling carved boxes, chessboards and furniture. Most travellers spend a morning or afternoon here as a break on the RN7 route, then continue south to Fianarantsoa or north to Antsirabe.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MGA
- Best months
- Apr–Nov
- avoid Dec–Mar (rainy season, road conditions worsen)
- Airports
- Ivato (TNR) · Fianarantsoa (FIA)
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- African islands ↗Sleep on the island you fly home from the night before your long-haul departure; inter-island flights and ferries in this region are cancelled or rescheduled often enough to break a same-day connection.
- African islands ↗In the Indian Ocean islands book flexible rates for December to March: a cyclone warning can shut airports, ferries and roads for two or three days.
- Madagascar ↗Check visa and e-visa rules for your passport on Madagascar's official e-visa portal before booking.
- Madagascar ↗Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead; ask about malaria prevention and whether a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for your route.
- Madagascar ↗Hire a car with a driver for road trips; self-drive is rarely practical and driving after dark is unsafe.
- Madagascar ↗Do not buy or export wildlife, tortoise shell, precious stones without a certificate, or protected plants; enforcement at the airport is strict.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Ambositra117 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Ambositra, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Malagasy ariary (MGA).Madagascar-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelma, Orange and Airtel (Yas) sell SIMs at Ivato and in towns with passport registration; data bundles are cheap.Madagascar-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Madagascar-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Round up or 5–10%.Madagascar-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Madagascar-wide
- SafetyAmbositra is safe for daytime strolling.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels; long-drop or squat toilets at many park gates and roadside stops.Madagascar-wide
- Emergency numbers117 police · 118 fire · 124 Medical (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops shut Sunday afternoons in towns; national parks open daily; banks close at weekends.Madagascar-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportTNR Ivato International Airport (Antananarivo) (The usual arrival point; Ambositra has no airport.
- Getting aroundWalk the main street.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Budget bedBasic guesthouse room, a night, per roomMGA 30,000
- Mid-range bedBasic guesthouse room, a night, per roomMGA 50,000
- High-end bedBasic guesthouse room, a night, per roomMGA 80,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget MGA 40,000 · Mid MGA 80,000 · High MGA 150,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- TNR Ivato International Airport (Antananarivo) (The usual arrival point; Ambositra has no airport. Road from Antananarivo via Antsirabe, roughly 6–7 h by car or taxi-brousse — check) · FIA Fianarantsoa Airport (Small domestic field about 1 h south by road; service is irregular — check)
Map of Ambositra
Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.
- Ambositra
- Basic guide
Directions in Google Maps · Apple Maps
Guides nearby
- Antsirabe · 76 km straight line
- Fianarantsoa · 103 km straight line
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Feb
Avoid
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Mar
Avoid
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Apr
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
May
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Jun
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Jul
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Aug
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Sep
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Oct
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Nov
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Dec
Avoid
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Best: Apr–Nov. Avoid: Dec–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)), coolest Jun (9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C) low), wettest Jan (20 rain days), driest Jun (6). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Ambositra: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
20 rd
Feb
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
18 rd
Mar
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
18 rd
Apr
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
12 rd
May
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
8 rd
Jun
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
6 rd
Jul
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
6 rd
Aug
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
6 rd
Sep
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
6 rd
Oct
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
10 rd
Nov
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
14 rd
Dec
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
18 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walk the main street. For longer distances, take a pousse-pousse (rickshaw); agree the price before you ride.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Ambalavao
goDoor to door: About 45 min
Taxi-brousse or car, about 45 min
Silk weaving and the Anja lemur reserve.
Antsirabe
goDoor to door: About 2–3 h
Taxi-brousse or car, about 2–3 h
Colonial architecture and gemstone market.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Town centre
A handful of basic hotels and guesthouses; most travellers continue to Fianarantsoa or Antsirabe for the night.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- MGA 30,000–60,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- MGA 60,000–120,000 excl. bed
- High
- MGA 120,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Basic guesthouse room1 × 1 night × MGA 50,000 | MGA 50,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × MGA 80,000 | MGA 160,000 |
| Taxi-brousse Antsirabe–Ambositra2 × MGA 15,000 · check | MGA 30,000 |
| Pousse-pousse ride in town2 × MGA 5,000 · check | MGA 10,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | MGA 25,000 |
| Trip total≈ MGA 137,500 per person per day, bed included | MGA 275,000 |
2026 estimate in MGA; flights excluded.
Prices of common things
| Wooden carving (small box)check | MGA 10,000–30,000 |
| Antaimoro paper (sheet)check | MGA 2,000–5,000 |
| Meal at a local restaurant | MGA 8,000–15,000 |
| Bottled water (1.5 L) | MGA 2,000–3,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Pousse-pousse drivers may demand extra after a 'free' ride: agree the fare upfront.
- Road conditions on the RN7 can be poor in the rainy season; allow extra time.
- Bottled water is recommended for foreign visitors.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 117
- Fire
- 118
- Medical
- 124
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
AmbositraAmbositra
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Mankany amin'ity adiresy ity azafadyTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police117
- Fire118
- Medical124
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Taxi-brousse Antsirabe → Ambositra: about MGA 15,000, 2–3 h (check)
- Pousse-pousse ride in town: MGA 5,000–10,000, agree before
Say or show
- Ohatrinona? — How much? (oo-ah-tree-noo-nah)
- Misaotra — Thank you (mee-sow-trah)
- Eny / Tsia — Yes / No (en-ee / tsee-ah)
- Manao ahoana — Good morning (mah-now ah-oo-ah-nah)
Malagasy is widely spoken; French works in shops and hotels.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ambositra. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Nov · avoid Dec–Mar (rainy season, road conditions worsen) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Ambositra
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